Lumber piler



March 2 1926.

F. W. HORSTKOTTE LUMBER FILER Filed NOV. 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 mwloaFrazier/bk W Harstkotte March 2,1926. 1,515,339

F. W. HQRSTKOTTE LUMBER FILER Filed Nov. 18, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F.HORSTKOTTE March 2, 1926. 1,575,339

LUMBER FILER g nucntol E ifgy mdemk W. Horst frozze March 2 1926.1,575,339

F. w. HORSTKOTTE LUMBER FILER Filed Nov. 18, 1924 45h86tS-Sh86t 4Patented Mar. 2, 1926.

rnnnnntoxw. nonswxor'rn', or ssox'annwasnmeron.

LUMBER BILER.

Application. filed November 18,1924. Seria1;No./50,69O. a

1 all 'w/w m it may concern;

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. Hons'n Ko'r'rn, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates, lGSlCL State of ashington have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Lumber Pilers, of which the following is aspecification. 1

My present invention relates to improvements in lumber pilers adaptedfor use in a' ariety of ways but particularly designed for stackinglumber on trucks or cars, which when loaded, are conveyed to a dry ingkiln.

The invention contemplates the utilization of an upright conveyor ot theendless chain type for successively elevating anddepositing boards orplanks on a chute or skidway in combination with a vertically movablestacking or piling, frame upon which the worlnnan stands while handlingthe lumber and formingthe stack on thekiln truck. Means are provided foradjusting the stacking frame for various lengths of boards or planks;automatic devices are used for guid ance in piling the boards or planks1n the stack 101' the formation of a fine in the'stack or pi ls toinsure proper CllStllbuillOn of the air currents in drying the materialalter the loaded truck has been introduced to the kiln; and othermeritorious features and combinations and arrangements of parts areutilized to insure facility and accuracy in the formation of the stack,as will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed. in theaccompanying drawing-s1 have illustrated one nomplete example of thephysical embodiment oi my invention wherein the parts are combined: andarranged in accordance withthe belt mode I have thus far de- -ri dstructure vation of the releasing device for the 1novable, intermed atecarriage to permit adjustment of the latter. ingat Spokane, in. SpokaneCounty and a Figure 5 is- ;an enlarged detail perspective view of one ofthe guides for the sticks used as separators placed in horizontalposition between layers of boards in the stack.

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view at line 6-6 of Figure 4,

In carrying: out my invention I utilize a strong supporting: framecomprising spaced uprights or posts in the form of channel bars I and 2,provided with suitable bases and joined by a cross beam as 3 to insure aYde waysloifthethree endless chains 8 which pass aroundsproeliet Wheels9' male at the lower and upper ends of these frames;

The chains are actuated by power applied to a sprocket wheel 11 ontheshat't 5 actuated from a suitable source of supply. a

Each chain, Off 1 the elevator I units is equipped with a series oflumber carri rs" for operating; parts of the conveyor ismade up 01" aThe upper shaft common to all of the 'units is'journaled in the upperends of upright frames 6 having suitable bearings 7. These frames formeach coi'i'iprising a pair of ClUpjlG/X arms 121' and 13 pivoted-- atlet on the chain, and the free or the location of the carriers onendless chain; f i

As seen in Figure 1f aplank or board 16 is deposited on; a phu'ality ot'the spaced brackets 1'?supportedlfroin the main frame, and by manualteed. these planksare picked up and placed upon. the synchronously mowing lower arms12 oi the alined carriers. as the carriers move upwardlyas'indicated by the erro in Fig. 1 the boards or planks are carried bythem upand over'tlie top ot' the carrier frames, and the planks arethen. deposited upon a series of spaced inclined skids 18 in theforniiotangle irons whichprofiect at the front of the machine.

As the boards are discharged upon the skids IS'i'hey are handled by twomen and deposited upon a car or kiln truck 19, in the form of a. stackhaving a central line 20 as p '15 of these arms serve to maintain thecarrcrs n proper pos tion regardless of indicated by dotted lines andfull lines in Figure 1. The flue 20 as shown has a wide base and itswalls converge or taper toward the stack-top. The planks or boards arelaid or built up in the stack in such manner that laterally extending;spaces, are provided therein to facilitate the distribution of aircurrents through the stack when the lumber has been conveyed into thekiln for drying.

In stacking the lumber on the kiln truck it is also necessary forgreatest economy and BlfiClGIlCy' to space the'horizontally disposedsticks 21, which are used to separate the layers of planks or boards, atproper inter- "als and in regular order, in the stack in uniformvertical rows.

The lumber is removed from the skids 18 by two men, one at each end ofthe plank or board, who stand upon the end platforms 22 and 23 providedtherefor. A third, intermediate, platform 24a is also utilized by oneman when short lengths ofmaterial are being handled, and this thirdplatform is adjustable between the two end platforms in order that'a manmay stand thereupon.

andco-operate with another man on one of the selected end platforms.When long boards are being stacked, the auxiliary platform 2 1 is movedto the right in Figure 3 adjacent to the platform 24 and used inconjunction with that platform.' I

The platforms are designed for vertical movement starting from theirlowermost position whenthe first layer of material is deposited upon thekiln truck 19, and they are gradually elevated or lifted, as the stackrises under formation, to their uppermost positionsas indicated inFigures 1 and 2.

The three platforms are eaclrsuspenclecl by frames 25, or 25 for theintermediate 2 platform, from a vertically movable, horizontallydisposed, rectangular stacking frame made up of a pair of end beams 2626 and two side beams 27 27. beams which project beyond the side beam 27are fixed in suitable manner each to a vertical slide head 28 28 whichheads are guided in their vertical movement by the respective posts oruprights 1 and 2.

The stacking frame is suspended by cables 29 29 which are attached at 30to the respective heads and these hoisting cables pass upwardly overpulleys 31 on the elevating shaft 32 which is journaled in bearings 33at the upper ends of the posts 1 and 2. One

of the cables, as 29 (see Fig. 2) also passes around an idle pulley 34:and thence over a driven pulley 35 on the elevating shaft and back to adriving pulley 36 supported in a yoke 37 onthe end of a piston rod 38having a piston (not shown) in the hydraulic cylinder 39. .Pipes 10 andl'provide the proper connections for the motive fluid to the cylmder forhoisting and lowering the stacking platforms and frame. A control Theend valve 40 for the motive fluid (Figs. 1 and 2) in connection with thepipes 40 and 41, is operable from the platform 22, in any position, bythe man standing thereon, who manipulates a valve rod 41 This rod has ahand lever 42 at its upper end and at its lower end has a socket head43for engagement with the valve 40 and the rod is of 19, are separated inlayers by successive tiers of spacing sticks 21 and the centrallongitudinal fine 20 is formed in the stack with a wide, open base, anda closed narrow top, by means of automatically operated guides carriedon the stacking frame, as will. now be described.

These guides are arranged in pairs, one pair being carried by each ofthe end beams 26 26', and another pair carried by a beam forming I partof the intermediate plat forxi. Each guide comprises a pair of opposed,flanged metallic plates 16 and 47 having perforations and reversed screwthreads 'for the complementary right and left-hand threaded screwbars48, 19,- and 50. The guide plates are' retained and guided each ina'slot 51 of the guide-supports, and the screw bars are journaled torevolve in bearings 52. The end screw bars '18 and 49 extend over to therespective heads 28 and 23 'andeach bar, is provided with a "ack wheelas 53 which is rotated or revolved with its screw bar as the wheeltravels upwardly or downwardly in contact with a vertical rack bar 54,one secured at the outer 47 are spaced apart their maximum dis-' tancefor indicating the position of the inner boards of the'two sections ofthe first layer of the stack deposited upon the kiln truck 19.

As the stacking platform gradually rises under propulsion from thehydraulic jack,

and through the action of the rack bars,

rack wheels and screw bars, the guide plates are gradually broughttogether in order that when the stacking frame rises to its maximumheight as in Figure 1, the guide plates are at their minimum distanceapart. By using these plates as guides the men are enabled to stack thetimber with facility as eases-e indicated in Figure 1 to form theflueQO: for use in the kiln. After the stack is completed andthe loadedtruck disposed of, the guide plates are automatically separated totheir.

maximum distance asthe stacking frame descends to 1ts lowermostposition.

' These stick-guides comprise channel plates form, form a. carriagewhiohis movable lonspaced at regular intervals .in two complementaryseries on the inner. sides ot the two beams 27 and 2:. Thegu-lde :platesare disposed in vertical position and are in terchangeable andadjustable. Each guide plate is provided \vitha pair rot-spaced heads edbolts 56 and these headed bolts are adapted to engage thecomplementary)air,0f-keyhole slots 57 on the frameabazrs 27 2.7i11order that theguide plates may with 'faei lity be attached ordetached with relationto. their supports, and adjusted at warlous distances apart along theinner sides of the beams.

The sticks 21 which are uniform inlength are dropped into position "onthextruck or.

on the stack, withtheir ends passing through a pair of complementaryguide' plates toin-n sure their proper position and uniform spacing atproper lntervalslalong thestack. As

each layer of planks is laid: longitudinally oi" the truck, a tier ofsticks is quickly laid transversely of the i planks,'-until the stack iscompleted as indicated in Figure =1. .Then the top open end of the-flue20 is closed by a single plank ;to :form a barrier against a direct updaft through the flue. Bythisiarspaces betweenlayers of xplanlnrtheheated aircurrents :in the l 1lI1lF8 caused tounove distribution of theair-currents, and. consee quent e'iliciency, indrymg the material.

The intermediate platform 24,..togethe1v with its trame 25' and abeams-7 ofthe' platigitudinallyot the stacking frame. The carv riage isprovided with pairs ofr'ollers .58at its ends whlch run :upon the topsurfaces of the respective beams 27 27' as rails or:

stacking guides of the end platforms;

through the instrumentality of a sprocket chain 59, the upperandlowemflights of which engage a sprocket wheel on the end ofwthescrew'bar 56) not the carriage or inter-- mediate platitorm; When :shorttained in adjustedposition" or use by one of the 111611 handling theipla'n ks. i

The screw bar-50 'oztt'he carriage passes though a slot--62 .in the.side beanrQZ, and the chain 159 isisuppoirted on sprocket wheels one ofthe end, screw bars, as 49 of the maehi ne,and revolvedtheretrom.

vThe sprocket w heel 63 at the other end of the endless chain is journaled in a yoke 65 which has a suitable suspending bar 66 slid-ablysupported in a bracket 67 'on the beam 217 A spring '68 is coiled aboutthe slidebar and interposed between the bracket 67 andran adjusting nut.69 on the threaded end of the adjusting-bar. The sprocket. wheel as thussuspended in,:a tensiondevice to adjusted position when short lengths ofmaterial are to be handled.

The chain 50 is normally held zin operative relation to its Wheel 60;Mlhenthecan 11'Z1gB1S to bemoved to. adj usted positionintermediate theendplatforms, the schain flights. are disengaged tromwthe sprocket.

wheel =60-by turning ,a hand lever .70 tsee Figure which is pivoted :onthe ascrew-ibar' 50. This hand lever ISZPIOVidGCl' with 'apair rangementof the flue in the staokia'nd. the 3 o-i' spaeed rollers -7 1rand-f72locatedat'proper points on thei'lever to contact Wltllthflnlnnerfacesfo-fthe two chain flights assthe lG'VGP'ISttUHHGd trominorma'lhorlzontal 'position to verticalwposition as shown by clottedlines, As:the lever is turned upwardly :or

downwardly,; the two :rollers; engage the chain flights and spread themapart, thus freeing: the chain from the wheel. This ipermits movement ofthe carriage which move:- mentalso-includesthe sprocket-wheel 60 and thescrew bar 50, 'the latter sliding alongzin the islot162 of thebeam 27. L

For retaining the lever 70 in normal position-a pin 73 is. passedthrough a aperioration inthe lever and said-pin projects into lengthplanks as 61 are being handled, this chain, iswactuated to operate {thestacker guides 4&6 and 47 of the carriage, the latter being ire- 63 and64, the latter wheel being carriedon the slot 62 of the beam'27 :to holdthe lever against accidental displacement while the chain "59 isoperating.

From the :above descriptionataken in connection with my -drawings itwillbe evident that I have provided lumber piling machinewwhich may beutilized for quickly and conveniently stacking nor piling :the materialupon .a truck, :car,. or other carrier as required and-'hereinbefore-explained, and that the machine will perform itsfunctions with smoothness and regularity and reliability.

Having thus fully described my invention,"

what I claim asnew and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1s 1. Thecombination with discharging skids, of a main frame, a verticallymovable stacking frame supported on the main frame adjacent to saidskids, normally spaced guideson said stacking frame, and means formoving said guides toward the center of the stack as the height of thelatter increases.

2. The combination in a lumber stacker with a main frame, a verticallymovable stacking frame supported thereon, and

means for moving said stacking frame, of

automatically operated guide means on the stacking frame whereby a fluemay be created in a stack while the latter is buildin 8. The combinationin a lumber piler with a main frame, a vertically movable stacking framesupported thereon and actuating means for the stacking frame, guidedevices on the stacking frame for use, in creating a fluein a stackwhile said stack is being erected, and'means co-acting with themovement. of the stacking frlm6 2111Cl{StlCk 'uides carried bysaidstackingframe for h use in erecting a stack.

5. The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movablestacking frame and means for operating said stack- 7 ing frame, of apairof spaced platforms carried by said stacking frame, an auxiliaryplatform carried by said stacking frame and means for moving saidplatform relatively to the spaced platforms whereby the auxiliaryplatform may be moved adjacent to one of said fixed platforms.

frame of a vertically movable stacking frame and means for operatingsaid stacking frame, of a fixed platform on the stacking frame, acarriage on the stacking frame and an auxiliary platform on saidcarriage, stacking guides on the stacking frame and a stacking guide onthe carriage, and means actuated by movement of the stacking frame foractuating said stacking guides.

7. The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movablestacking frame and operating means therefor, of a plurality ofstacking-guides carried by said stacking frame each comprising a pair ofop-' posed, relatively movable plates and' means actuated by themovement of the stacking frame for varying the distancebetween saidplates.

8 The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movablestacking frame and operating means therefor, of a plurality of stackingguides carried by said stacking frame each comprising a pair of opposedplates and a screw bar having i'eversed threads for. each pair ofplates, 21 rack wheel on each screw bar, and a rack bar on thesupporting frame for each rack wheel.

9. The combination with a supporting frame of a vertically movablestacking frame and operating means therefor, of a pair ofstacking-guide-members carried by said stackingfraine a carriage on thestacking frame, a pair of stacking guide-members carried by saidcarriage, and means actuated by the movement of the stacking frame forvarying the distance between said guide members.

10. The combination with a supporting frame, a vertically movablestacking frame, a working-platform on said stacking frame,

and means for operating the stacking frame,

of a carriage on said stacking frame and a working-platforn'i on thecarriage, a plurality of stacking guides on the stacking frame and astacking guide on the carriage,

each said guide comprising a pair of relatively movable plates, and ascrew bar hav-- ing reversed threads for co-action with said plates, arack wheel on the screw bars carried 'by the stacking frame and a rackbar forv each said wheel on the. supporting' frame, and operativeconnections between one of said latter screw bars and the screw bar onthe carriage.

11. The combination with avertically mov able stacking frame having aworking platform and a screw bar supported on said frame, of a carriagesupported on the stacking frame and a screw bar on saidcarriage, a pairof opposed stacking-guide plates on each screw bar and reverse threadson said bars, power transmission devices connectv I ing said bars, andineans actuated by the 6. The combination with a supporting 13. Thecombination with a main frame and a rack bar thereon, of a verticallymovablestacking frame and a screw bar thereon having a rack wheel, acarriage on the stacking frame and a screw bar thereon, a pair ofrelatively movable stacking guide plates on each screw bar, sprocketwheels on said bars and a sprocket chain connecting said Wheels, andmeans for releasing saicl chain from the carriage-spr0cket-wheel topermit movement of the carriage.

14. The combination with a main frame and a rack bar thereon. of aVertically mow able stacking frame and a screw bar thereon having a rackwheel, a carriage 0n the stacking frame and a screw bar thereon, a pair30 of relatively movable stacking plates on each screw bar, sprocketwheels on said screw bars, a third sprocket wheel having a movablesupport on the stacking frame, and means for releasing said chain fromthe carriage sprocket wheel to permit movement of the carriage.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

F. V. HORSTKOTTE.

